Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Lorrie Lewandowski honored

Lorrie Lewandowski, coordinator/supervisor of the School and Community-Based ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug) Prevention Program, was honored by ADAPAO (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio) during their annual meeting May 2.

She was presented with the Member of the Year Award, which is presented to an ADAPAO member for exemplary contributions to ADAPAO and its membership through service to or on behalf of the association.

Lewandowski is the immediate past-president of ADAPAO, and her long tenure on the board of directors ended last June. Since her board “retirement,” Lorrie has represented ADAPAO in several formal settings, as well as provided behind-the-scenes support to the association.

She has continued to serve on ADAPAO’s Education & Training Committee and over the last year, also served as ADAPAO’s official representative on state committees, and was also part of an ADAPAO team that met with ODADAS Director Orman Hall in November to discuss prevention. 

Also awarded during the event were Thomas Kelechi, Rick Oliver, Karen Pierce, and Robin Seymour-Hicks.

“We are extremely proud to showcase the tremendous efforts and achievements of these five individuals,” said Andrea Hoff, president of ADAPAO. “Their commitment to prevention is helping create healthier communities for all Ohioans.”

Hoff noted that the ADAPAO Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious honors within Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention arena. ADAPAO began presenting the awards in 1988. The recipients have included professionals within the prevention field as well as educators, community members, and government officials.


ADAPAO is a membership association of Ohioans championing the advancement of alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention. The association serves as “the voice of prevention” in the state, advocating on behalf of prevention to the Ohio Legislature, state agencies, and the general public. The association also provides education and training opportunities in prevention, and networks prevention advocates throughout the state to increase communication and idea exchange.

ADAPAO’s signature event is its annual one-day conference, which also serves as the setting for the awards presentation. This year’s conference, held May 2 at The River Club at Confluence Park in Columbus, focused on issues ranging from the prevention of opiate abuse and addiction and synthetic drugs to advocating an FDA approach to the issue of marijuana as medicine. Nearly 125 prevention professionals, advocates and supporters from around the state attended the annual conference

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